Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

चतुःशतं समारभ्य सहस्रार्णावधि द्विज । अतिवृद्धाः प्रयोगेषु शिथिलास्ते समीरिताः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

catuḥśataṃ samārabhya sahasrārṇāvadhi dvija | ativṛddhāḥ prayogeṣu śithilāste samīritāḥ || 57 ||

Translation

Ô deux-fois-né, depuis la mesure de quatre cents jusqu’à la limite de mille syllabes, ces textes sont dits démesurément longs et, dans l’usage rituel, ils deviennent relâchés et sans efficacité.

Word by Word

• चतुःशतम्: four hundred
• चतुःशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुः-शत (प्रातिपदिक; चतुः + शत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्यासमास (द्विगु)

• समारभ्य: starting from
• समारभ्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having begun/starting from’

• सहस्रार्णावधि: up to a thousand syllables
• सहस्रार्णावधि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्र-अर्ण-अवधि (प्रातिपदिक; सहस्र + अर्ण + अवधि)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) ‘up to’; तत्पुरुषसमास (सीमावाचक)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• अतिवृद्धाः: overgrown/excessively long
• अतिवृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; अति + वृद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• प्रयोगेषु: in practice/usage
• प्रयोगेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• शिथिलाः: loose/ineffective
• शिथिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: they/those (mantras)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समीरिताः: are declared/called
• समीरिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘are said/declared’ (passive sense)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes disciplined, well-measured sacred recitation: overly expanded formulations can lose practical force, so dharmic practice should be precise rather than merely lengthy.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By implying that devotion is strengthened by focused, correctly applied worship; bloated or careless performance can dilute attention and steadiness, which are essential for bhakti-based practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Prayoga-oriented discipline tied to Vedanga concerns—especially Shiksha (phonetics/syllable measure) and Kalpa (ritual procedure)—stressing appropriate length and usable liturgical form.